Unseeded teenager Gatha Suryawanshi from Panvel lit up the courts in Pune on Wednesday, producing the standout performance of the opening day at the Late Sushant Chipalkatti Yonex Sunrise India Junior International Grand Prix. The 15-year-old announced herself on the big stage by ousting third seed Durga Kandrapu 22-20, 21-15 at the P.E. Society’s Modern PDMBA Sports Complex.

The contest began on a knife-edge, both players trading points in a tense opening game that extended beyond regulation. Holding her nerve, Suryawanshi clinched it 22-20 before accelerating through the second with crisp smashes and superior court coverage. “Because of my own unforced errors, the first game became very tight. But once I settled in, I was able to dictate the rallies and take control,” said an elated Gatha after her win.

The teenager, who trains at the Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad, attributed her growing maturity to the two years spent under its demanding programme. “The Academy has given me extra leverage in terms of technique and match temperament. I feel more assured on court now,” she added with a smile.

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Her momentum carried into the evening session, where she won another encounter 21-17 to advance further in the tournament. For a Class X student, it was a day that promised much for the rounds ahead.

The upsets, however, were not confined to her match. Fellow unseeded player Remta Pravin sent 12th seed Ananya Agarwal packing in a gripping three-game battle, taking the decider 21-12 after the pair split the opening games. In the boys’ draw, Vansh Dev overpowered seventh seed Deepanshu, rebounding from a first-game loss to close out 16-21, 21-14, 21-13 with aggressive net play and superior fitness.

With several seeded contenders falling at the first hurdle, the competition has been thrown wide open. The early shocks, led by Suryawanshi’s breakthrough triumph, have handed India’s next generation of shuttlers a stage to carve their success stories against established names.